In April 2018 I posted a note on research collaboration about my great grandfather James Ricalton. This led to the excellent monograph by Dr. Roger Bailey and Dr. Rita Goldberg, "James Ricalton: His Work was his Life," published by the Saint Lawrence County Historical Association (SLCHA, Vol. LXVIII, No. 4, 2020). I continue to be fascinated by James, particularly his journeys in Africa, where I variously traveled and worked in maternal and child healthcare (2007-2019).
James' materials are spread far and wide. In January 2025, I met with the curator of photography at the Library of Congress to discuss developing a bibliography and artifact reference. My thought is that this would be helpful for further research and publication.
I've viewed movies James made in about 1900 at the Library; met with curators at the Smithsonian Museum of American History; visited the special collection at Saint Lawrence University; visited James' home in Waddington; viewed material at the SLCHA; and visited the Maplewood Historical Society and Maplewood's Ricalton Square. This year, I aim to visit Ricalton materials and curators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, UC/Riverside (Keystone-Mast Collection), Getty Museum, and a visit with the photography collector George Rinhart. In time, I'll visit the Edison museum, Rutgers, Albany, and additional sources.
In May 2025, I travel to Kenya to visit the grave of James's son, Lomond, who died at the British Hospital in Nairobi in 1914 at the age of 24. (I visited the hospital in 2019.) Lomond died from jungle fever -- typhoid pneumonia -- during an expedition with his father that was commissioned by Thomas Edison. I may bring to Lomond's gravesite water and a stone I collected from Loch Lomond, the place for which my great uncle was named. (James named his son after what he termed "the most beautiful body of water" in the world.) Friends from Africa have provided me with detailed information about Lomond's gravesite in the Nairobi South Cemetery, along with visiting advice.
James shows-up in aphorisms across my 320+ pp. manuscript, and I have been encouraged to write a separate book about James. I am transcribing James' 1909 diary from his Africa journey -- New York to South Hampton, to Cape Town, and a walk from there to Cairo, mostly following Cecil Rhodes' route.
Fascinating fellow, much to consider.
-- Jim
James Ricalton Wilson
Washington, DC
February 2025
PS -- I am aware of links between Teddy Roosevelt and James; I recently found a tie between James and Mark Twain. Also Henry Morton Stanley. I welcome further insights and advice.
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